“Don't push me away, Cass. That kiss was real, I felt it, and I know you felt it too. Tell me you're happy with him, that he treats you well, and I'll bow out, I'll leave you be. But if you can't tell me that, don't deny it, don't deny us, don't deny me, and give us the chance we both deserve,” he whispered.
I pulled out of his embrace, keeping my back to him and took a step away.
“I need to go bed.” It had taken everything I had not to cry, but my body betrayed me as I started to shake while I was still standing there, sobs filling my throat. I wanted that chance as well, I couldn't deny that.
He reached for me, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulled me into his chest. He placed his hand on my cheek, his thumb brushing away the one tear. He looked me in the eye and slowly leaned in and brushed his lips against mine until he was kissing me deeply. I could feel my body start to melt against him but stopped and pulled at his hand, forcing it away from my body.
“Brody, please, I can't do this now I'm going to go to bed.”
I saw the hurt in his eyes and felt his hand slip away from my body. I ran down the hall, and as soon as I was in the safety of my bedroom with the door closed, I leaned up against the door and slid to the floor. With my face in my hands, I let out a deep sob. There was no doubt I loved the feel of his lips on mine and his hands on me, my body pressed into his. I was meant to be there. Soon the tears stopped, and when I heard the creak in the hallway, I got up from the floor, got changed, and crawled into bed where the tears started all over again.
* * *
Brody
Maybe this was a mistake,I thought as I was left standing in the living room alone. I had watched her make a beeline for her bedroom, her shoulders shaking more and more with every step she took.
I hadn't even made it a full week yet, and I had already made her cry. I felt horrible. I took a deep breath and blew it out through my mouth, looking in the direction of her bedroom, debating if I should go down there. Instead, the mess of dirty dishes on the counter caught my attention. They weren’t going to clean themselves, and I didn't want Cass to be up half the night or wake up to the mess in the morning.
I wandered over, listening to faint cries coming from down the hall and started to load things into the dishwasher after putting the remainder of food away in the fridge. I even set aside a container for Cass to take for lunch tomorrow. She wasn't looking after herself very well, and I’d be damned if that was going to continue.
Once I had everything put away, I threw two more logs on the fire and sat on the couch, listening to her murmured cries, each sob a knife to my heart. I debated what to do. Walking away was the easy part, I had done it, and it got me nowhere. I was determined not to do that this time even if she was crying because of me. I planned to tough it out.
After a while, the crying stopped, and I got up from the couch and shut the light off. I was going to go to bed, but instead, I passed my room and went to the end of the hall. I wanted to talk to her. I stopped outside her closed bedroom door and could tell she was still awake because a faint light was falling under her doorway. I pressed my ear to the door, hearing her soft voice.
“Why should I give him a chance Josie... because of a kiss, are you kidding me? Sure, it was the best kiss I think I’ve ever had, but come on Josie, that isn't enough...”
I kept my ear pressed to the door, a smile coming to my lips. I wanted to hear more, but she had gone quiet suddenly. I was just about to pull away when I heard her speak again, getting a little louder this time.
“You can't ask me that... okay fine, from what I remember, the sex was great too, but that isn't enough to base a start of a relationship on... I thought we were great together as well, and I have missed him... no, I'm still with Ray.”
Listening to her admission, I hung my head and wondered what the fuck I was really doing here. I should have walked the other way when she told me she was seeing Ray, but the part of me that was completely in love with her wouldn't allow it. The jealous part of me, well, that just made me want to fight for her and pray it turned out in my favor. Still, I was angry with myself, but I couldn't fucking help it. I knew she wasn't happy with him—the look on her face had said it all when he had kissed her in front of me the other day—she just needed to see it.
I leaned my forehead on her door and closed my eyes, listening hard, but the room had gone quiet again. I clenched my fists tight. I had to get out of here, I couldn't take it. I walked back down the hall to the kitchen, grabbed my keys off the counter, and walked out the door. I just needed some time to clear my head.
Chapter Fourteen
Brody
Ipulled the truck upoutside of the only bar in town and shut off the engine. I probably shouldn't have driven down here after all I had had to drink tonight but fuck it. If I needed, I would take a cab back home. I needed to figure out what I was going to do. I had deserved everything she said to me, there was no doubt.
Carl's Place was the local bar. It was dark, dingy, dirty, and smelled of stale beer. The few patrons inside turned and looked at me as I entered and approached the bar. It didn't surprise me, small town and all. Tourists probably never ventured in here, they would just stay at their hotel. I ignored the stares, ordered myself a beer, and took a seat at the bar. I was just about done my first one and had ordered another when I heard a gruff voice behind me.
“What the fuck you doing in here? This place is for locals only.”
I didn't turn around, I didn't want any trouble. I just wanted to have a couple of beers and be on my way.
“Hey! I asked you a question!”
I felt a hand shove me from behind. I turned around to see Ray staring at me.
“Look, I don't want any trouble, I just came in to have a couple of drinks, alright?”
“Well, that makes two of us, you don't want trouble, and I don't want you shacking up with the chick I'm fucking. But one of us doesn't seem to care about that!” He staggered toward me. I didn't need him getting up in my face, talking about Cass as if she were just another notch on his belt. She meant more to me than that.
“You see, Brody, since you got back into town, the bitch won’t even kiss me, doesn’t seem interested at all, and that’s pissed me the fuck off.”
“Well, Ray,” I could feel my blood start to pump, “maybe she just isn’t interested.”